Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazarus Opicho Dies

Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazarus Opicho, the commander of the Security of Government Buildings and VIP Protection Unit, has died.

Opicho died at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi on Monday night, September 28, 2026, after an illness, according to colleagues and friends.

Chief Justice Martha Koome mourned the veteran officer, highlighting his role in establishing the Judiciary Police Unit and strengthening security within the Judiciary.

“I have received with profound shock and sadness the news of the passing of SAIG Lazarus Opicho, who, until his demise, served as the Commander of the Security of Government Buildings and VIP Protection Unit,” Koome said.

Opicho held a special place in the Judiciary’s institutional history, having served as the founding head of the Judiciary Police Unit after its establishment in 2021.

“He served as the founding Head of the Judiciary Police Unit, established in 2021 to provide a dedicated framework for the security of Judiciary personnel, court users and judicial premises across the country,” Koome said.

The Chief Justice said Opicho helped establish the unit’s foundations and contributed to a more coordinated approach to protecting Judiciary personnel, court users and judicial premises.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also led tributes to Opicho, describing him as a dedicated and exemplary officer whose years of service to the National Police Service and the country would be remembered.

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